Body Check by Elle Kennedy Summary, Characters and Themes
Body Check by Elle Kennedy is a steamy, emotionally charged hockey romance that explores the clash between passion and security, love and fear, and the courage it takes to embrace the unexpected.
Centered around Hayden Houston, an art history professor determined to avoid the chaos of her hockey-filled past, and Brody Croft, a bad-boy hockey star with a heart of gold, the story unfolds with sizzling chemistry, personal growth, and family drama. As Hayden struggles to reconcile her past with her present and Brody fights to prove he’s more than his reputation, their connection forces them to face what they truly want—and who they really are.
Summary
Hayden Houston has spent her entire life trying to distance herself from the world of hockey.
As the daughter of Presley Houston, owner of the Chicago Warriors, she grew up feeling like the sport mattered more to her father than she ever did. Now an art history professor at Berkeley, Hayden craves structure and predictability, far removed from the fast-paced, testosterone-fueled environment of professional hockey. She’s in an uninspiring, overly cautious relationship with Doug, a conservative academic whose idea of romance is as dull as his personality.
But when Hayden returns to Chicago to support her father through his messy, public divorce, her carefully constructed world begins to unravel.
Enter Brody Croft—a ruggedly handsome, charismatic hockey player for the Chicago Warriors with a reputation for being both a fierce competitor on the ice and a notorious playboy off it. Brody’s life has been defined by his career, marked by both personal scandals and professional success.
However, beneath his bad-boy image lies a man craving something real, something beyond fleeting hookups and the superficial attention his fame attracts.
One night, while blowing off steam with her best friend Darcy, Hayden spots Brody at a bar. Despite her disdain for hockey players—and her determination to avoid emotional entanglements—she’s drawn to his raw, magnetic presence.
Their flirtatious banter turns into a sizzling connection, leading to an impulsive one-night stand that leaves both of them shaken. Hayden, desperate to keep things simple, walks away without giving Brody her number. But neither of them can forget the intensity of that night.
Fate has other plans. When Hayden attends one of her father’s games, she’s stunned to see Brody on the ice, realizing with horror that her one-night stand is not just any hockey player—he’s a star for her father’s team.
Their worlds collide again and again, and despite her efforts to resist, Hayden finds herself entangled with Brody in ways she never expected. Brody, meanwhile, is determined to break through her defenses. Unlike the women he’s dated before, Hayden challenges him, sees beyond his fame, and forces him to confront his vulnerabilities.
As their relationship deepens, so do the complications. Hayden’s unresolved issues with her father’s emotional absence resurface, fueling her fear of repeating the same mistakes in love. She struggles to reconcile the passionate, messy connection she has with Brody against the safe, predictable life Doug represents.
Adding to the tension is Brody’s involvement in a potential game-fixing scandal brewing within the Warriors organization. Though Brody isn’t directly implicated, the rumors threaten his career and his fragile reputation.
Family dynamics also weigh heavily on Hayden. Her father’s bitter divorce from his much younger wife, Sheila, brings old wounds to the surface, forcing her to confront feelings of neglect and abandonment. Meanwhile, Doug reappears, hoping to rekindle their stale relationship, offering her the illusion of stability she thought she wanted.
The emotional climax comes when Brody’s relationship with Hayden becomes public, causing friction with her father, who disapproves of his daughter dating one of his players. The scandal surrounding Brody intensifies, putting their romance under even greater strain.
Faced with mounting pressure from her family, her ex, and her own insecurities, Hayden must decide whether to retreat into the safety of the familiar or risk everything for a love that’s passionate, imperfect, and real.
Ultimately, Hayden chooses to follow her heart. She realizes that playing it safe means settling for a life without true passion. Brody, in turn, proves his commitment by standing firm in the face of adversity, showing Hayden—and himself—that he’s capable of more than just fleeting flings.
Their journey is one of self-discovery, emotional growth, and the realization that sometimes the best things in life come when you least expect them.
Body Check is a story about the messy, beautiful chaos of love, the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability, and the unexpected ways people can change when they find someone worth fighting for.
Characters
Hayden Houston
Hayden Houston is a complex and layered character shaped by her upbringing and the dynamics of her family life. As the daughter of Presley Houston, the owner of the Chicago Warriors hockey team, she was exposed to the world of professional hockey from a young age but grew to resent the sport due to the emotional neglect she felt from her father.
This resentment is further fueled by the chaotic nature of her family relationships, particularly with her father, who was emotionally distant during her childhood. As an adult, Hayden becomes an art history professor at Berkeley, leading a structured, predictable life, trying to distance herself from the unpredictable nature of hockey and her father’s influence.
Throughout the story, her character wrestles with the desire for stability and a longing for deeper, more passionate experiences. She is in a complicated, unsatisfying relationship with Doug, a conservative professor, which showcases her struggle between the safety of an established, predictable relationship and the passionate, risky appeal of someone like Brody.
Hayden’s internal conflict is centered around her fear of repeating the mistakes of her parents, especially the strained romantic relationship she witnessed between her father and his ex-wife. She is initially wary of getting involved with Brody, but their connection draws her in, and she gradually begins to confront her insecurities, including her fear of vulnerability and emotional intimacy.
As her feelings for Brody deepen, she must decide between staying in her comfort zone with Doug or embracing the unpredictable love she has with Brody. Her journey reflects themes of self-discovery, trust, and the courage to open up to love, despite the potential for pain.
Brody Croft
Brody Croft is the quintessential bad-boy hockey player with a complicated past. Raised in a rough environment, hockey provided him with both an escape and a sense of purpose, ultimately leading to his rise as a star player for the Chicago Warriors.
Brody’s public persona is one of a notorious playboy, constantly surrounded by rumors and scandals. Despite his fame and success on the ice, Brody is weary of superficial relationships and craves something real and meaningful.
His attraction to Hayden is immediate, and what starts as a one-night stand evolves into something much deeper. Unlike other women he has been with, Hayden doesn’t care about his fame or status as a hockey star, which fascinates him and makes him question his previously shallow relationships.
Brody’s personal struggles and emotional growth are significant aspects of his character. He is dealing with the fallout from a brewing scandal that could jeopardize his career, and while he is not directly implicated, the allegations weigh heavily on him.
His growing relationship with Hayden challenges him to confront his past mistakes and the persona he has built around his bad-boy image. Through his interactions with Hayden, Brody begins to recognize that he wants more than just fame and fleeting pleasures—he wants a genuine connection, one that transcends his identity as a hockey player.
As the story progresses, Brody’s vulnerability and willingness to evolve are key to his character development, and his journey towards self-realization reflects the theme of identity beyond labels.
Doug
Doug, Hayden’s boyfriend at the beginning of the story, represents the “safe” choice in her life. He is a conservative professor, embodying the type of stable, predictable relationship that Hayden thought she wanted.
Doug’s character serves as a contrast to Brody’s wild, passionate nature. His relationship with Hayden is marked by emotional detachment and a lack of physical intimacy, as Doug insists on waiting for a deeper connection before becoming intimate.
This cautious approach to love and relationships leaves Hayden feeling sexually frustrated and emotionally unfulfilled. Doug’s character highlights the theme of security versus passion, as he represents a life free from emotional risk, but one that also lacks the excitement and intensity Hayden begins to crave.
Doug is not a villain in the story, but rather a symbol of what Hayden feels is safe and comfortable. His reappearance later in the narrative, after Hayden has begun to develop feelings for Brody, forces Hayden to confront her own desires and the life she envisions for herself.
Despite his genuine feelings for Hayden, Doug ultimately serves as a reminder of what Hayden’s life could be like if she chooses predictability and security over emotional depth and passion. In the end, Doug’s character plays a crucial role in pushing Hayden toward the realization that love, while risky and unpredictable, is worth pursuing when it offers something real and fulfilling.
Presley Houston
Presley Houston, Hayden’s father, is a pivotal character, though not physically central to the plot, his presence looms large throughout the story. As the owner of the Chicago Warriors, Presley’s career in hockey took precedence over his relationship with his daughter during her formative years.
His emotional unavailability and obsession with his work created a deep-seated resentment in Hayden, which shapes her cautious approach to relationships. Presley’s messy divorce from his much younger wife, Sheila, also serves as a backdrop to Hayden’s return to Chicago and her emotional turmoil.
His troubled marriage and public scandal further complicate Hayden’s feelings toward him, as she grapples with feelings of abandonment and the need for emotional validation. Despite his flaws, Presley’s character plays a significant role in Hayden’s emotional growth.
His strained relationship with her mirrors some of the conflicts Hayden faces in her own romantic life, particularly her fear of emotional attachment. Throughout the story, Presley’s inability to provide emotional support to his daughter becomes a catalyst for Hayden to confront her own fears and insecurities regarding love and vulnerability.
By the end of the story, Presley’s character, while not undergoing a major transformation, is part of the backdrop that helps Hayden understand the importance of breaking free from the past and embracing the messy, unpredictable nature of love.
Darcy White
Darcy White is Hayden’s best friend, serving as a source of support and guidance throughout the story. With her free-spirited and no-nonsense personality, Darcy encourages Hayden to take risks and step outside her comfort zone.
It is Darcy who pushes Hayden to embrace her desires and have a one-night stand with Brody, a decision that leads to the development of Hayden’s relationship with him. Darcy’s role in the story is significant as she helps Hayden navigate her emotions, particularly in moments when Hayden is unsure of what she wants.
While Darcy doesn’t play a central role in the romantic arc of the story, her friendship provides the emotional grounding Hayden needs as she deals with the complexities of her love life and family dynamics.
Themes
The Struggle Between Living on the Edge and Playing It Safe
At the heart of Body Check lies the enduring conflict between passion and security, a theme that speaks to the very core of human relationships. Hayden, who finds herself torn between her stable yet passionless relationship with Doug and the intense, fiery connection she shares with Brody, is at a crossroads that many can relate to.
Doug represents the predictable future—a life grounded in comfort, routine, and safety—but this life is devoid of the fervor that Hayden craves. In stark contrast, Brody offers her the wild unpredictability of passion, challenge, and excitement, but it comes with its own risks.
Brody’s unpredictable career and his tarnished reputation add layers of instability, and Hayden must decide if she is willing to risk it all for something that feels real, despite its inherent chaos. The tension between these two opposing forces reflects a universal truth: love and life can be messy, and often, the most fulfilling experiences come when we dare to step away from the safety of the familiar and embrace the unknown.
The Journey from a “Playboy Hockey Star” to a Genuine Lover
Another deeply layered theme in Body Check is the concept of reinvention and the journey toward personal growth. Brody Croft, initially seen as the quintessential bad boy—charming, aloof, and known for his womanizing ways—undergoes a significant transformation throughout the story.
His character arc is a testament to the possibility of self-reinvention. In a world that labels him based on his past mistakes and his fame as a hockey player, Brody yearns for a deeper connection and the opportunity to prove that he is more than just his public persona.
His relationship with Hayden acts as a catalyst for this transformation, pushing him to confront his inner demons and reconcile with his past. Similarly, Hayden’s ability to see beyond Brody’s reputation allows her to help him discover that he is worthy of love that is not rooted in superficiality.
How Childhood Experiences Shape Our Views on Love and Trust
Family dynamics play a pivotal role in Body Check, particularly through the lens of Hayden’s relationship with her father, Presley Houston. Growing up as the daughter of a hockey team owner, Hayden has always felt second to her father’s passion for his career, a feeling that exacerbates her resentment toward the sport itself.
Her father’s emotional unavailability and the strained relationship he has with her have left deep scars that shape Hayden’s approach to love and trust as an adult. She is wary of the same kind of emotional neglect and distance that she experienced growing up, making her hesitant to invest fully in a relationship with Brody.
At the same time, her father’s messy divorce from Sheila—a woman much younger than him—further complicates her view of relationships. The way Hayden struggles with the idea of repeating her father’s mistakes, yet at the same time finds herself drawn to Brody, highlights the complicated intersection of personal history and adult relationships.
It underscores how childhood experiences, particularly the dynamics within a family, continue to influence our ability to form trust, intimacy, and connection in our adult lives.
The Courage to Embrace Love and Take Risks in the Face of Fear of Vulnerability and Rejection
At the core of Hayden and Brody’s relationship is the universal theme of vulnerability—the fear of being emotionally exposed and the courage it takes to open oneself up to love. Both characters are grappling with their own insecurities.
Hayden’s fear stems from her childhood experiences, where emotional neglect and the presence of a father who prioritized his career over family left her wary of emotional investment. She fears that allowing herself to be vulnerable, especially with someone as complex as Brody, will lead to heartbreak.
On the other hand, Brody’s fear is rooted in the shame and stigma of his past as a womanizing hockey player. Despite his successful career, he harbors self-doubt about his worth as a partner beyond his athletic persona.
Throughout the story, both Hayden and Brody must confront these fears head-on, deciding if they are willing to take a chance on love and open their hearts despite the emotional risks. Their evolving relationship highlights the importance of overcoming fear to embrace true connection and intimacy.
In doing so, both characters discover that love is not about perfection, but about accepting each other with all their flaws and vulnerabilities.
Moving Beyond Past Mistakes to Create a New Path
A significant theme in Body Check is the notion of second chances—both in the context of love and personal growth. Both Hayden and Brody are in the midst of reimagining their futures.
Hayden, once fixated on the predictable life she envisioned with Doug, is forced to reconsider what she truly wants in life. She has spent years adhering to a set idea of what a successful relationship looks like, shaped by her family and her past.
Brody, too, is seeking a second chance—not just at love, but at life beyond his reputation. His past mistakes, which once defined him, now become the catalyst for his desire to reinvent himself.
As both characters evolve, they come to realize that the past doesn’t have to dictate their futures. Body Check poignantly illustrates that second chances are not merely about escaping the past, but about taking the lessons from it and using them to build something stronger and more meaningful.
It is only by embracing their imperfections, letting go of preconceived notions, and taking risks that they can forge a new path forward, both individually and as a couple.